Versions of Hippocratic Oath Essay Example

doctors and can share their problems without any fear of privacy violation. Moreover, changes show extension of freedom provided to patients and the responsibilities assigned to doctors. The change is important as it ensures that medical practice is exercised according to the patient’s requirements. The oath changed to ensure that it can the modern world. Also, the intermingling and freedoms of diverse cultures necessitated the change of oath.

Application to abortion

The application of the two versions of the Hippocratic Oath to abortion issue has diverse views. Classical version does not allow abortion to be performed. It denies doctors from doing euthanasia or performs an abortion because they do not meet the society and religious standards. Classical version demands for respect of life and hence hinder abortion (Miles, 2015). The modern version grants doctors the mandate to perform abortions. The version gives patients a wide freedom and requires doctors to respect their minds and souls. Based on my arguments, the practice of abortion infringes classical version since it shows disrespect to human life.

Relation to ethical theory

On relating the two versions of the oath to normative theory, the result is that the classic version correlates with the theory. Classical version weighs if a practice is desirable or bad before implementing it (Edelstein, 2010). Normative theory includes hypothesis related to things that are just or unjust, right and wrong in the society. The Classical theory does not allow practices such as abortion and respects the human life. Human life is important, and the society demands people not to indulge in practices that risk human life. The modern version does not correlate with the normative theory since its practices follow

the mind and soul of human being. In summary, the normative theory and the classical version match in diverse ways.

References

1. Edelstein, L. (2010). The Hippocratic Oath: Text; Translation, and Interpretation. Cross-cultural perspectives in medical ethics. Jones & Bartlett, Boston, 3-21.
2. Miles, S. H. (2015). The Hippocratic oath and the ethics of medicine. Oxford University Press.